Journal Description
Risks
Risks
is an international, scholarly, peer-reviewed, open access journal for research and studies on insurance and financial risk management. Risks is published monthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High visibility: indexed within Scopus, ESCI (Web of Science), EconLit, EconBiz, RePEc, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q1 (Economics, Econometrics and Finance (miscellaneous))
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 20.4 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 4.3 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers for a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done
Impact Factor:
2.2 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
1.9 (2022)
Latest Articles
Capital Structure Models and Contingent Convertible Securities
Risks 2024, 12(3), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030055 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
We implemented a methodology to calibrate capital structure models for banks that have issued contingent convertible securities (CoCos). Typical studies involving capital structure model calibration focus on non-financial firms as they have lower leverage and no contingent convertible securities. From a theoretical perspective,
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We implemented a methodology to calibrate capital structure models for banks that have issued contingent convertible securities (CoCos). Typical studies involving capital structure model calibration focus on non-financial firms as they have lower leverage and no contingent convertible securities. From a theoretical perspective, we found that jumps in the asset value process were necessary to obtain a satisfactory fit to the market data. In practice, contingent capital conversion triggers are discretionary, and there is considerable uncertainty around when regulators are likely to enforce conversion. The market-implied conversion triggers we obtain indicate that the market expects regulators to enforce conversion while the issuing bank is a going concern, as opposed to a gone concern. This fact is presumably of interest to potential dealers, regulators, issuers, and investors.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Analysis in Financial Crisis and Stock Market)
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Shareholders in the Driver’s Seat: Unraveling the Impact on Financial Performance in Latvian Fintech Companies
by
Ramona Rupeika-Apoga, Stefan Wendt and Victoria Geyfman
Risks 2024, 12(3), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030054 - 18 Mar 2024
Abstract
Fintech companies are relatively young and operate in a rapidly evolving and ever-changing industry, which makes it important to understand how different factors, including shareholder presence in management roles, affect their performance. This study investigates the impact of shareholder presence in director and
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Fintech companies are relatively young and operate in a rapidly evolving and ever-changing industry, which makes it important to understand how different factors, including shareholder presence in management roles, affect their performance. This study investigates the impact of shareholder presence in director and manager positions on the financial performance of Latvian fintechs. Our investigation centers on essential financial ratios, including Return on Assets, Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Liquidity Ratio, Current Ratio, and Solvency Ratio. Our findings suggest that the presence of shareholders in director and manager roles does not significantly affect the financial performance of fintech companies. Although the statistical analysis did not yield significant results, it is important to consider additional insights garnered from Cliff’s Delta effect sizes. Specifically, despite the lack of statistical significance, practical significance indicates that fintech companies in which directors and managers are shareholders show slightly better performance than other fintech companies. Beyond shedding light on the intricacies of corporate governance in the fintech sector, this research serves as a valuable resource for investors, stakeholders, and fellow researchers seeking to understand the impact of shareholder presence in director and manager roles on the financial performance of fintechs.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Financial Analysis, Corporate Finance and Risk Management)
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A Quantitative Comparison of Mortality Models with Jumps: Pre- and Post-COVID Insights on Insurance Pricing
by
Şule Şahin and Selin Özen
Risks 2024, 12(3), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030053 - 14 Mar 2024
Abstract
Population events such as natural disasters, pandemics, extreme weather, and wars might cause jumps that have an immediate impact on mortality rates. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that these events should not be treated as nonrepetitive exogenous interventions. Therefore, mortality models incorporating
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Population events such as natural disasters, pandemics, extreme weather, and wars might cause jumps that have an immediate impact on mortality rates. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that these events should not be treated as nonrepetitive exogenous interventions. Therefore, mortality models incorporating jump effects are particularly important to capture the adverse mortality shocks. The mortality models with jumps, which we consider in this study, differ in terms of the duration of the jumps–transitory or permanent–the frequency of the jumps, and the size of the jumps. To illustrate the effect of the jumps, we also consider benchmark mortality models without jump effects, such as the Lee-Carter model, Renshaw and Haberman model and Cairns-Blake-Dowd model. We discuss the performance of all the models by analysing their ability to capture the mortality deterioration caused by COVID-19. We use data from different countries to simulate the mortality rates for the pandemic and post-pandemic years and examine their accuracy in forecasting the mortality jumps due to the pandemic. Moreover, we also examine the jump-free and jump models in terms of their impact on insurance pricing, specifically term annuity and life insurance present values calibrated for both pre- and post-COVID data.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extreme Events: Mortality Modelling and Insurance)
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Unveiling Outperformance: A Portfolio Analysis of Top AI-Related Stocks against IT Indices and Robotics ETFs
by
Ali Trabelsi Karoui, Sonia Sayari, Wael Dammak and Ahmed Jeribi
Risks 2024, 12(3), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030052 - 13 Mar 2024
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In this study, we delve into the financial market to compare the performance of prominent AI and robotics-related stocks against traditional IT indices, such as the Nasdaq, and specialized AI and robotics ETFs. We evaluate the role of these stocks in diversifying portfolios,
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In this study, we delve into the financial market to compare the performance of prominent AI and robotics-related stocks against traditional IT indices, such as the Nasdaq, and specialized AI and robotics ETFs. We evaluate the role of these stocks in diversifying portfolios, analyzing their return potential and risk profiles. Our analysis includes various investment scenarios, focusing on common AI-related stocks in the United States. We explore the influence of risk management strategies, ranging from “buy and hold” to daily rebalancing, on AI stock portfolios. This involves investigating long-term strategies like buy and hold, as well as short-term approaches, such as daily rebalancing. Our findings, covering the period from 30 April 2021, to 15 September 2023, show that AI-related stocks have not only outperformed in recent years but also highlight the growing “AI bubble” and the increasing significance of AI in investment decisions. The study reveals that these stocks have delivered superior performance, as indicated by metrics like Sharpe and Treynor ratios, providing insights into market trends and financial returns in the technology and robotics sectors. The results are particularly relevant for investors and traders in the AI sector, offering a balanced view of potential returns against the risks in this rapidly evolving market. This paper adds to the financial market literature by demonstrating that investing in emerging trends, such as AI, can be more advantageous in the short term compared to traditional markets like the Nasdaq.
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Assessing Financial Stability in Turbulent Times: A Study of Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity-Type Value-at-Risk Model Performance in Thailand’s Transportation Sector during COVID-19
by
Danai Likitratcharoen and Lucksuda Suwannamalik
Risks 2024, 12(3), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030051 - 13 Mar 2024
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The Value-at-Risk (VaR) metric serves as a pivotal tool for quantifying market risk, offering an estimation of potential investment losses. Predominantly employed within financial sectors, it aids in adhering to regulatory mandates and in devising capital reserve strategies. Nonetheless, the predictive precision of
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The Value-at-Risk (VaR) metric serves as a pivotal tool for quantifying market risk, offering an estimation of potential investment losses. Predominantly employed within financial sectors, it aids in adhering to regulatory mandates and in devising capital reserve strategies. Nonetheless, the predictive precision of VaR models frequently faces scrutiny, particularly during crises and heightened uncertainty phases. Phenomena like volatility clustering impinge on the accuracy of these models. To mitigate such constraints, conditional volatility models are integrated to augment the robustness and adaptability of VaR approaches. This study critically evaluates the efficacy of GARCH-type VaR models within the transportation sector amidst the Thai stock market’s volatility during the COVID-19 pandemic. The dataset encompasses daily price fluctuations in the Transportation Sector index (TRANS), the Service Industry index (SERVICE), and 17 pertinent stocks within the Stock Exchange of Thailand, spanning from 28 December 2018 to 28 December 2023, thereby encapsulating the pandemic era. The employed GARCH-type VaR models include GARCH (1,1) VaR, ARMA (1,1)—GARCH (1,1) VaR, GARCH (1,1)—M VaR, IGARCH (1,1) VaR, EWMA VaR, and csGARCH (1,1) VaR. These are juxtaposed with more traditional, less computationally intensive models like the Historical Simulation VaR and Delta Normal VaR. The backtesting methodologies encompass Kupiec’s POF test, the Independence Test, and Christoffersen’s Interval Forecast test. Intriguingly, the findings reveal that the Historical Simulation VaR model surpasses GARCH-type VaR models in failure rate accuracy. Within the GARCH-type category, the EWMA VaR model exhibited superior failure rate accuracy. The csGARCH (1,1) VaR and EWMA VaR models emerged as notably robust. These findings bear significant implications for managerial decision-making in financial risk management.
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Open AccessArticle
Value-at-Risk Effectiveness: A High-Frequency Data Approach with Semi-Heavy Tails
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Mario Ivan Contreras-Valdez, Sonal Sahu, José Antonio Núñez-Mora and Roberto Joaquín Santillán-Salgado
Risks 2024, 12(3), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030050 - 13 Mar 2024
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In the broader landscape of cryptocurrency risk management, this study delves into the nuanced estimation of Value-at-Risk (VaR) for a uniformly weighted portfolio of cryptocurrencies, employing the bivariate Normal Inverse Gaussian distribution renowned for its semi-heavy tails. Utilizing high-frequency data spanning between 1
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In the broader landscape of cryptocurrency risk management, this study delves into the nuanced estimation of Value-at-Risk (VaR) for a uniformly weighted portfolio of cryptocurrencies, employing the bivariate Normal Inverse Gaussian distribution renowned for its semi-heavy tails. Utilizing high-frequency data spanning between 1 January 2017 and 25 October 2022, with a primary focus on Bitcoin and Ethereum, our research seeks to accentuate the resilience of VaR methodology as a paramount risk assessment tool. The essence of our investigation lies in advancing the comprehension of VaR accuracy by quantitatively comparing the observed returns of both cryptocurrencies with their corresponding estimated values, with a central theme being the endorsement of the Normal Inverse Gaussian distribution as a potent model for risk measurement, particularly in the domain of high-frequency data. To bolster the statistical reliability of our results, we adopt a forward test methodology, showcasing not only a contribution to the evolution of risk assessment techniques in Finance but also underscoring the practicality of sophisticated distributional models in econometrics. Our findings not only contribute to the refinement of risk assessment methods but also highlight the applicability of such models in precisely modeling and forecasting financial risk within the dynamic realm of cryptocurrencies, epitomized by the case study of Bitcoin and Ethereum.
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The Role of Longevity-Indexed Bond in Risk Management of Aggregated Defined Benefit Pension Scheme
by
Xiaoyi Zhang, Yanan Li and Junyi Guo
Risks 2024, 12(3), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030049 - 06 Mar 2024
Abstract
Defined benefit (DB) pension plans are a primary type of pension schemes with the sponsor assuming most of the risks. Longevity-indexed bonds have been used to hedge or transfer risks in pension plans. Our objective is to study an aggregated DB pension plan’s
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Defined benefit (DB) pension plans are a primary type of pension schemes with the sponsor assuming most of the risks. Longevity-indexed bonds have been used to hedge or transfer risks in pension plans. Our objective is to study an aggregated DB pension plan’s optimal risk management problem focusing on minimizing the solvency risk over a finite time horizon and to investigate the investment strategies in a market, comprising a longevity-indexed bond and a risk-free asset, under stochastic nominal interest rates. Using the dynamic programming technique in the stochastic control problem, we obtain the closed-form optimal investment strategy by solving the corresponding Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation. In addition, a comparative analysis implicates that longevity-indexed bonds significantly reduce solvency risk compared to zero-coupon bonds, offering a strategic advantage in pension fund management. Besides the closed-form solution and the comparative study, another novelty of this study is the extension of actuarial liability (AL) and normal cost (NC) definitions, and we introduce the risk neutral valuation of liabilities in DB pension scheme with the consideration of mortality rate.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimal Investment and Risk Management)
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The Regime-Switching Structural Default Risk Model
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Andreas Milidonis and Kevin Chisholm
Risks 2024, 12(3), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030048 - 04 Mar 2024
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We develop the regime-switching default risk (RSDR) model as a generalization of Merton’s default risk (MDR) model. The RSDR model supports an expanded range of asset probability density functions. First, we show using simulation that the RSDR model incorporates
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We develop the regime-switching default risk (RSDR) model as a generalization of Merton’s default risk (MDR) model. The RSDR model supports an expanded range of asset probability density functions. First, we show using simulation that the RSDR model incorporates sudden changes in asset values faster than the MDR model. Second, we empirically implement the RSDR, MDR and an extension of the MDR model with changes in drift parameters, using maximum likelihood estimation. Focusing on the period before and after corporate rating downgrades used primarily for investment advice, we find that the RSDR model uses changes in equity mean returns and volatility to produce higher estimated default probabilities, faster, than both benchmark models.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risks Journal: A Decade of Advancing Knowledge and Shaping the Future)
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What Matters for Comovements among Gold, Bitcoin, CO2, Commodities, VIX and International Stock Markets during the Health, Political and Bank Crises?
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Wajdi Frikha, Azza Béjaoui, Aurelio F. Bariviera and Ahmed Jeribi
Risks 2024, 12(3), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030047 - 04 Mar 2024
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This paper analyzes the connectedness between gold, wheat, and crude oil futures, Bitcoin, carbon emission futures, and international stock markets in the G7, BRICS, and Gulf regions with the outbreak of exogenous and unexpected shocks related to health, banking, and political crises. To
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This paper analyzes the connectedness between gold, wheat, and crude oil futures, Bitcoin, carbon emission futures, and international stock markets in the G7, BRICS, and Gulf regions with the outbreak of exogenous and unexpected shocks related to health, banking, and political crises. To this end, we use a wavelet-based method on the returns of different assets during the period 2 January 2019, to 21 April 2023. The empirical findings show that the existence of time-varying linkages between markets is well documented and appears stronger during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it seems to diminish for some associations with the advent of the Russia-Ukraine War. The empirical results also show that investor risk perceptions measured by the VIX are negatively and substantially linked to stock markets in different regions. Other interesting findings emerge from the connectedness analysis with the outbreak of Silicon Valley bankruptcy. In particular, Bitcoin tends to regain its role as a safe-haven asset against some G7 stock markets during the bank crisis. Such findings can provide valuable insights for investors and policymakers concerning the relationship between different markets during different crises.
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Navigating Inflation Challenges: AI-Based Portfolio Management Insights
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Tibor Bareith, Tibor Tatay and László Vancsura
Risks 2024, 12(3), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030046 - 01 Mar 2024
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After 2010, the consumer price index fell to a low level in the EU. In the euro area, it remained low between 2010 and 2020. The European Central Bank has even had to take action against the emergence of deflation. The situation changed
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After 2010, the consumer price index fell to a low level in the EU. In the euro area, it remained low between 2010 and 2020. The European Central Bank has even had to take action against the emergence of deflation. The situation changed significantly in 2021. Inflation jumped to levels not seen for 40 years in the EU. Our study aims to use artificial intelligence to forecast inflation. We also use artificial intelligence to forecast stock index changes. Based on the forecasts, we propose portfolio reallocation decisions to protect against inflation. The forecasting literature does not address the importance of structural breaks in the time series, which, among other things, can affect both the pattern recognition and prediction capabilities of various machine learning models. The novelty of our study is that we used the Zivot–Andrews unit root test to determine the breakpoints and partitioned the time series into training and testing datasets along these points. We then examined which database partition gives the most accurate prediction. This information can be used to re-balance the portfolio. Two different AI-based prediction algorithms were used (GRU and LSTM), and a hybrid model (LSTM–GRU) was also included to investigate the predictability of inflation. Our results suggest that the average error of the inflation forecast is a quarter of that of the stock market index forecast. Inflation developments have a fundamental impact on equity and government bond returns. If we obtain a reliable estimate of the inflation forecast, we have time to rebalance the portfolio until the inflation shock is incorporated into government bond returns. Our results not only support investment decisions at the national economy level but are also useful in the process of rebalancing international portfolios.
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Robust Estimation of the Tail Index of a Single Parameter Pareto Distribution from Grouped Data
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Chudamani Poudyal
Risks 2024, 12(3), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030045 - 01 Mar 2024
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Numerous robust estimators exist as alternatives to the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) when a completely observed ground-up loss severity sample dataset is available. However, the options for robust alternatives to a MLE become significantly limited when dealing with grouped loss severity data, with
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Numerous robust estimators exist as alternatives to the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) when a completely observed ground-up loss severity sample dataset is available. However, the options for robust alternatives to a MLE become significantly limited when dealing with grouped loss severity data, with only a handful of methods, like least squares, minimum Hellinger distance, and optimal bounded influence function, available. This paper introduces a novel robust estimation technique, the Method of Truncated Moments (MTuM), pecifically designed to estimate the tail index of a Pareto distribution from grouped data. Inferential justification of the MTuM is established by employing the central limit theorem and validating it through a comprehensive simulation study.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Actuarial Mathematics and Risk Theory)
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Market Equilibrium and the Cost of Capital with Heterogeneous Investment Horizons
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Moshe Levy and Haim Levy
Risks 2024, 12(3), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030044 - 29 Feb 2024
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Expected returns, variances, betas, and alphas are all non-linear functions of the investment horizon. This seems to be a fatal conceptual problem for the capital asset pricing model (CAPM), which assumes a unique common horizon for all investors. We show that under the
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Expected returns, variances, betas, and alphas are all non-linear functions of the investment horizon. This seems to be a fatal conceptual problem for the capital asset pricing model (CAPM), which assumes a unique common horizon for all investors. We show that under the standard assumptions, the theoretical CAPM equilibrium surprisingly holds with the 1-period parameters, even when investors have heterogeneous and possibly much longer horizons. This is true not only for risk-averse investors, but for any investors with non-decreasing preferences, including prospect theory investors. Thus, the widespread practice of using monthly betas to estimate the cost of capital is theoretically justified.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimal Investment and Risk Management)
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Climate Change-Related Disaster Risk Mitigation through Innovative Insurance Mechanism: A System Dynamics Model Application for a Case Study in Latvia
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Maksims Feofilovs, Andrea Jonathan Pagano, Emanuele Vannucci, Marina Spiotta and Francesco Romagnoli
Risks 2024, 12(3), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12030043 - 28 Feb 2024
Abstract
This study explores how the System Dynamics modeling approach can help deal with the problem of conventional insurance mechanisms by studying the feedback loops governing complex systems connected to the disaster insurance mechanism. Instead of addressing the disaster’s underlying risk, the traditional disaster
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This study explores how the System Dynamics modeling approach can help deal with the problem of conventional insurance mechanisms by studying the feedback loops governing complex systems connected to the disaster insurance mechanism. Instead of addressing the disaster’s underlying risk, the traditional disaster insurance strategy largely focuses on providing financial security for asset recovery after a disaster. This constraint becomes especially concerning as the threat of climate-related disasters grows since it may result in rising long-term damage expenditures. A new insurance mechanism is suggested as a solution to this problem to lower damage costs while safeguarding insured assets and luring new assets to be protected. A local case study utilizing a System Dynamics stock and flow model is created and validated by examining the model’s structure, sensitivity analysis, and extreme value test. The results of the case study performed on a city in Latvia highlight the significance of effective disaster risk reduction strategies applied within the innovative insurance mechanism in lowering overall disaster costs. The logical coherence seen throughout the analysis of simulated scenario results strengthens the established model’s plausibility. The case study’s findings support the innovative insurance mechanism’s dynamic hypothesis and show the main influencing factors on the dynamics within the proposed innovative insurance mechanism. The information this study can help insurance firms, policy planners, and disaster risk managers make decisions that will benefit local communities and other stakeholders regarding climate-related disaster risk mitigation.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Actuarial Mathematics and Insurance Risk Management)
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When to Hedge Downside Risk?
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Christos I. Giannikos, Hany Guirguis, Andreas Kakolyris and Tin Shan (Michael) Suen
Risks 2024, 12(2), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12020042 - 18 Feb 2024
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Hedging downside risk before substantial price corrections is vital for risk management and long-only active equity manager performance. This study proposes a novel methodology for crafting timing signals to hedge sectors’ downside risk. These signals can be integrated into existing strategies simply by
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Hedging downside risk before substantial price corrections is vital for risk management and long-only active equity manager performance. This study proposes a novel methodology for crafting timing signals to hedge sectors’ downside risk. These signals can be integrated into existing strategies simply by purchasing sector index put options. Our methodology generates successful signals for price corrections in 2000 (dot-com bubble) and 2008 (global financial crisis). A key innovation involves utilizing sector correlations. Major price swings within six months are signaled when a sector exhibits high valuation alongside abnormal correlations with others. Utilizing the price-to-earnings ratio for identifying sectors’ high valuations is more beneficial than the bond–stock earnings yield differential. Our signals are also more efficient than those of standard technical analyses.
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Do US Active Mutual Funds Make Good of Their ESG Promises? Evidence from Portfolio Holdings
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Massimo Guidolin and Monia Magnani
Risks 2024, 12(2), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12020041 - 18 Feb 2024
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We investigate the occurrence of greenwashing in the US mutual fund industry. Using panel regression methods, we test whether there exist differences in the portfolio investment behaviors of active equity funds that are self-declared to be driven by ESG motives when compared to
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We investigate the occurrence of greenwashing in the US mutual fund industry. Using panel regression methods, we test whether there exist differences in the portfolio investment behaviors of active equity funds that are self-declared to be driven by ESG motives when compared to all other funds. In particular, we focus on two aspects of funds’ portfolio allocation decisions, i.e., the actual implied average ESG ratings of the stocks a mutual fund invests in and the portfolio share invested in sin stocks. We do not find strong evidence that ESG and non-ESG funds make identical investment choices and hence reject the hypothesis of widespread greenwashing. ESG funds, on average, invest more in companies with higher ESG ratings and avoid sin stocks more than non-ESG funds. Nonetheless, we obtain evidence that some degree of greenwashing may still be occurring. However, over time, the differences between ESG and non-ESG funds in these behaviors seem have declined, suggesting a potential reduction in greenwashing practices.
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Open AccessArticle
Analyzing Size of Loss Frequency Distribution Patterns: Uncovering the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Shengkun Xie and Yuanshun Li
Risks 2024, 12(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12020040 - 18 Feb 2024
Abstract
This study delves into a critical examination of the Size of Loss distribution patterns in the context of auto insurance during pre- and post-pandemics, emphasizing their profound influence on insurance pricing and regulatory frameworks. Through a comprehensive analysis of the historical Size of
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This study delves into a critical examination of the Size of Loss distribution patterns in the context of auto insurance during pre- and post-pandemics, emphasizing their profound influence on insurance pricing and regulatory frameworks. Through a comprehensive analysis of the historical Size of Loss data, insurers and regulators gain essential insights into the probabilities and magnitudes of insurance claims, informing the determination of precise insurance premiums and the management of case reserving. This approach aids in fostering fair competition, ensuring equitable premium rates, and preventing discriminatory pricing practices, thereby promoting a balanced insurance landscape. The research further investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these Size of Loss patterns, given the substantial shifts in driving behaviours and risk landscapes. Also, the research contributes to the literature by addressing the need for more studies focusing on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on pre- and post-pandemic auto insurance loss patterns, thus offering a holistic perspective encompassing both insurance pricing and regulatory dimensions.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risks: Feature Papers 2023)
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Open AccessObituary
In Memory of Peter Carr (1958–2022)
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Giuseppe Campolieti, Arash Fahim, Dan Pirjol, Harvey Stein, Tai-Ho Wang and Lingjiong Zhu
Risks 2024, 12(2), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12020039 - 18 Feb 2024
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The editors of this special issue and several of the contributing authors have known Peter for a long time. We thought that the special issue will be enriched by adding a few personal notes and recollections about our interactions with Peter.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Topics in Finance and Risk Engineering—In Memory of Peter Carr)
Open AccessArticle
Dynamic Liability-Driven Investment under Sponsor’s Loss Aversion
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Dong-Hwa Lee and Joo-Ho Sung
Risks 2024, 12(2), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12020038 - 13 Feb 2024
Abstract
This paper investigates a dynamic liability-driven investment policy for defined-benefit (DB) plans by incorporating the loss aversion of a sponsor, who is assumed to be more sensitive to underfunding than overfunding. Through the lens of prospect theory, we first set up a loss-aversion
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This paper investigates a dynamic liability-driven investment policy for defined-benefit (DB) plans by incorporating the loss aversion of a sponsor, who is assumed to be more sensitive to underfunding than overfunding. Through the lens of prospect theory, we first set up a loss-aversion utility function for a sponsor whose utility depends on the funding ratio in each period, obtained from stochastic processes of pension assets and liabilities. We then construct a multi-horizon dynamic control optimization problem to find the optimal investment strategy that maximizes the expected utility of the plan sponsor. A genetic algorithm is employed to provide a numerical solution for our nonlinear dynamic optimization problem. Our results suggest that the overall paths of the optimal equity allocation decline as the age of a plan participant reaches retirement. We also find that the equity portion of the portfolio increases when a sponsor is less loss-averse or the contribution rate is lower.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Life Insurance and Pensions: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
An Objective Measure of Distributional Estimability as Applied to the Phase-Type Aging Model
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Cong Nie, Xiaoming Liu and Serge B. Provost
Risks 2024, 12(2), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12020037 - 13 Feb 2024
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The phase-type aging model (PTAM) is a class of Coxian-type Markovian models that can provide a quantitative description of the effects of various aging characteristics. Owing to the unique structure of the PTAM, parametric inference on the model is affected by a significant
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The phase-type aging model (PTAM) is a class of Coxian-type Markovian models that can provide a quantitative description of the effects of various aging characteristics. Owing to the unique structure of the PTAM, parametric inference on the model is affected by a significant estimability issue, its profile likelihood functions being flat. While existing methods for assessing distributional non-estimability require the subjective specification of thresholds, this paper objectively quantifies estimability in the context of general statistical models. More specifically, this is achieved via a carefully designed cumulative distribution function sensitivity measure, under which the threshold is tailored to the empirical cumulative distribution function, thus becoming an experiment-based quantity. The proposed definition, which is validated to be innately sound, is then employed to determine and enhance the estimability of the PTAM.
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Open AccessArticle
Quantitative Modeling of Financial Contagion: Unraveling Market Dynamics and Bubble Detection Mechanisms
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Ionuț Nica, Ștefan Ionescu, Camelia Delcea and Nora Chiriță
Risks 2024, 12(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/risks12020036 - 08 Feb 2024
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This study explored the complex interplay and potential risk of financial contagion across major financial indices, focusing on the Bucharest Exchange Trading Investment Funds Index (BET-FI), along with global indices like the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite (IXIC), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA).
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This study explored the complex interplay and potential risk of financial contagion across major financial indices, focusing on the Bucharest Exchange Trading Investment Funds Index (BET-FI), along with global indices like the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite (IXIC), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). Our analysis covered an extensive period from 2012 to 2023, with a particular emphasis on Romania’s financial market. We employed Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) modeling to examine the interrelations among these indices, treating the BET-FI index as our primary variable. Our research also integrated Exponential Curve Fitting (EXCF) and Generalized Supremum Augmented Dickey–Fuller (GSADF) models to identify and scrutinize potential price bubbles in these indices. We analyzed moments of high volatility and deviations from typical market trends, influenced by diverse factors like government policies, presidential elections, tech sector performance, the COVID-19 pandemic, and geopolitical tensions, specifically the Russia–Ukraine conflict. The ARDL model revealed a stable long-term relationship among the variables, indicating their interconnectedness. Our study also highlights the significance of short-term market shifts leading to long-term equilibrium, as shown in the Error Correction Model (ECM). This suggests the existence of contagion effects, where small, short-term incidents can trigger long-term, domino-like impacts on the financial markets. Furthermore, our variance decomposition examined the evolving contributions of different factors over time, shedding light on their changing interactions and impact. The Cholesky factors demonstrated the interdependence between indices, essential for understanding financial contagion effects. Our research thus uncovered the nuanced dynamics of financial contagion, offering insights into market variations, the effectiveness of our models, and strategies for detecting financial bubbles. This study contributes valuable knowledge to the academic field and offers practical insights for investors in turbulent financial environments.
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